Where do i start? - Developers

Hello, What do you guys think is the best way for me to start mapping. I've never touched hammer before so this is my first time thanks

1st of. TopHATTwaffle has great tutoials for beginers: [URL="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jF3er5lsaeg"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jF3er5lsaeg[/URL] 2nd. NEVER EVER use the Carve tool

This website is important, and you'll probably come to it a lot: [URL]https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Category:Level_Design[/URL] And this page specifically helped me a lot when I was learning: [url]https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Entity_list[/url] Good luck.

I made a simple box map but it wont compile The log is: [CODE] ** Executing... ** Command: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\locator098\sourcesdk\bin\orangebox\bin\vbsp.exe" ** Parameters: -game "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\GarrysMod\garrysmod" "C:\Users\Luke\Desktop\MAP\rp_predrealmcity.vmf" Can't find steam app user info. ** Executing... ** Command: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\locator098\sourcesdk\bin\orangebox\bin\vvis.exe" ** Parameters: -game "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\GarrysMod\garrysmod" "C:\Users\Luke\Desktop\MAP\rp_predrealmcity" Valve Software - vvis.exe (Oct 31 2012) Can't find steam app user info. ** Executing... ** Command: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\locator098\sourcesdk\bin\orangebox\bin\vrad.exe" ** Parameters: -game "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\GarrysMod\garrysmod" "C:\Users\Luke\Desktop\MAP\rp_predrealmcity" Can't find steam app user info. ** Executing... ** Command: Copy File ** Parameters: "C:\Users\Luke\Desktop\MAP\rp_predrealmcity.bsp" "C:\Users\Luke\Desktop\MAP\rp_predrealmcity.bsp" [/CODE]

May aswell keep my work in this thread. Re designed the evocity_v33x carpark [IMG]http://puu.sh/8jbz4.jpg[/IMG]

[quote]"C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\locator098\sourcesdk\bin\orangebox\bin\vbsp.exe"[/quote] Are you using the SDK launcher? If so that's probably the cause of that error because it pretty much broke after steampipe update. If you have CSS, HL2, or HL2DM those are the best ones to use (launch hammer from the games bin folder), any map made in them can be copied over to gmod without issues (typically).

your better off using another map as a reference instead of an edit as a new map dev. It has too much going on for you to understand all at once and the grid can get very clogged up to learn how to make brushwork well. also, you seem to have the decal tool down tho so nice job.

[QUOTE=Gary D;44603802]2nd. NEVER EVER use the Carve tool[/QUOTE] What's wrong with the carve tool?

[QUOTE=Mike16112;44623897]What's wrong with the carve tool?[/QUOTE] It cuts brushes into bazillion other tiny brushes, which most of time can be avoided by manually creating the brush and vertex editing.

[QUOTE=Burnout6010;44625509]It cuts brushes into bazillion other tiny brushes, which most of time can be avoided by manually creating the brush and vertex editing.[/QUOTE] I should also add that more brushes mean longer compile times, bigger file size, and more lag. also there is a brush limit, so with bigger maps you want to conserve as many brushes as possible

How do i add textures from other sourcegames / custom textures. I'm using the Hammer in tf2 bin folder but want to import some custom materials.

[QUOTE=Burnout6010;44625509]It cuts brushes into bazillion other tiny brushes, which most of time can be avoided by manually creating the brush and vertex editing.[/QUOTE] Or using the clipping tool, since you are much smarter than carve is. Clicking the clipping tool icon multiple after selecting it changes it's clip mode between either side of the drawn line or preserving both sides.

[QUOTE=AIX-Who;44635322]How do i add textures from other sourcegames / custom textures. I'm using the Hammer in tf2 bin folder but want to import some custom materials.[/QUOTE] [url=http://www.tophattwaffle.com/tutorials/]Ctrl+F "custom"[/url]

[QUOTE=AIX-Who;44635322]How do i add textures from other sourcegames / custom textures. I'm using the Hammer in tf2 bin folder but want to import some custom materials.[/QUOTE] 1. make a folder in the game directory and name it materials. 2. drop textures in there, be careful to preserve folder hierarchy.